Sabi Sands Luxury
Safaris made for you
The big five
and many other fascinating creatures to discover
Safari
on morning and evening and game drives
Spot Elephants
on the banks for Sabi and Sand river
Lion and leopard
roam across the reserve
Luxury Lodges
with gourmet dining, spas and incredible service
One of the world's premier safari destinations
Widely regarded as Africa’s premier game reserve, Sabi Sands is world renowned for the abundance of game (particularly leopard), and is the best place to see all of the ‘Big Five’ in South Africa.
This is one of the best places in Africa to get up close and personal with Africa’s most famous predators. Sabi Sand’s private reserve of over 60,000 hectares shares an unfenced boundary with the enormous Kruger Park, allowing an authentic game-rich experience where animals roam free.
The landscape is Savanna Bushveld, the iconic safari landscape of scrub, small trees and grass land, punctuated by the Sabi and Sand Rivers. The oldest of all the private reserves, the game here has become very accustomed to the vehicles, allowing for fantastic, up close viewings. One can even track leopard or wild-dog as they hunt, a thrilling and unique experience.
Highlights
Take morning and evening game drives on search for Africa’s big five; elephants, lions, leopards, buffalos and rhinos
Benefit from expert guides and trackers who know the reserve intimately as you learn about the wildlife in the region
Stay in luxury lodges and enjoy delicious cuisines, sumptuous spas and impeccable service during your stay
Head out on foot on walking safaris learning about smaller flower and fauna and hoping to track larger and more unusual wildlife such as wild dogs
Jody van Merode
Senior Travel Designer
I’ve been lucky enough to go on safari in the Sabi Sands many times. It’s a truly magical experience for any wildlife lover. The animals here are so easy to spot due to the huge populations of many species and the fact that they’re fairly accustomed to jeeps. For me though, the fact that this reserve is private, keeping visitor numbers low is key. Safaris here feel exclusive and luxurious, a truly special adventure.
Jody van Merode
Senior Travel Designer
Luxury accommodation in the Sabi Sands
Why book with Jacada?
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.
Responsible travel
Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.
Trip inspiration
Destinations to combine with your Safari
Cape Town
Vibrant and beautiful, Cape Town is an essential stop on any South Africa trip. Table Mountain dominates the skyline and offers exciting outdoor pursuits while the streets below are full of history, culture and buzzing bars and restaurants.
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The Winelands
Pretty towns and villages punctuate the green rolling hills of South Africa’s Wine Region. Home to fantastic wine, restaurants and plenty of outdoor activities that make the most of the stunning landscapes.
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The Whale Coast
On the Atlantic shoreline of the western cape there’s a beautiful collection of bays, towns and villages. Whale watching boat trips can be arranged to spot southern right whales and evenings are spent in fine restaurants and stylish hotels.
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Luxury Rail Travel
Luxury trains cut through dramatic landscapes, enjoyed from the comfort of stylish carriages. Any journey through South Africa will be a beautiful one and taking the journey by train delivers a wonderful sense of calm or romance.
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The Kalahari
The Kalahari showcases the massive diversity of the country's landscapes. Unique desert species roam the arid plains, waiting for the rains to bring dry land to life with a flurry of desert flowers.
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Limpopo Province
Known as ‘The Great North’ Limpopo is characterised by majestic scenery, ancient landscapes and millions of hectares of protected land. There are numerous outdoor activities including some of the best horse riding safaris in the country.
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The Garden Route
The Garden Route is a place of magnificent natural beauty. The coastline is made up of small bays, beaches and quaint towns. In the distance rolling, green hills and forestland runs down to meet the coast, laden with marine life.
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Phinda
Phinda is a private reserve offering exclusivity, conservation-lead hospitality and exciting wildlife encounters. A varied collection of habitats attracts plenty of wildlife and with its proximity to the coast, beach and bush combine perfectly.
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The Elephant Coast
Just below Mozambique the Elephant Coast boasts some of the best beaches in South Africa. Highlights include the UNESCO wetlands of Lake St Lucia, the coral reefs of Sodwana Bay and Kosi Bay with it’s sea turtle residents.
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Drakensberg Mountains
The Drakensberg mountains are an epic and exciting place to visit. Huge tabletops, massive ranges, ancient san rock-art sites and crashing waterfalls can be explored on hikes, exhilarating zip lines and expedition horse rides.
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The Western Cape Mountains
The Cape Mountains span the northern and southern capes, taking in the Cederberg mountains and most of the Karoo plateau. A perfect place for jaw-dropping road trips on the famous route 62 and all just a convenient distance from Cape Town.
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The Battlefields
One of South Africa’s historically significant regions, a must-stop destination for any historian. Famous for outstanding expert guides who bring the stories to life as you wander the fields.
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Durban
A subtropical climate, beautiful beaches and laid back atmosphere makes Durban a great city to spend time in. It also holds plenty of cultural and political importance as the capital of the KwaZulu Natal region.
Discover moreMeet your Africa team
When to visit
June through to September are the drier winter months, when the vegetation is much more sparse and game tends to congregate around the watering holes, making this generally the best time to spot game. The warmer months from October through to April have more rains, turning the landscape a beautiful green and bringing abundant birdlife.
Safari
June - September
Birdlife
October - April
Very Dry
August - September
South Africa Travel Guides
Plan your trip to
The Sabi Sands
Whatever you want from your adventure in the Sabi Sands, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.
Jacada was great. The knowledgeable people at Jacada - James, Betty, Wade to name the ones we were in touch with - plus all the people who were there meeting us at planes, picking us up at hotels -- on time. While the sights and sounds in the bush were amazing, the hospitality at Lion Sands River Lodge and Thornybush…
Jacada helped us plan an unforgettable trip to South Africa. The hotel and restaurant recommendations were top notch, the guides they provided were courteous, knowledgeable and professional and made our trip an amazing experience. We covered a lot of ground - from Cape Town to the Whale Coast and finally Sabi Sands. During the entire trip, we never felt rushed…
We worked with the team at Jacada to plan a dream trip in South Africa and Zimbabwe. The level of customer service was incredible, every step of the way from the planning phase to in-country communications about our transitions to our next destination. The accommodations in Franschhoek, Sabi Sands, and near Victoria Falls exceeded our expectations. It was the vacation…
From pre-planning to execution and everything in between, Jacada and its team of professionals absolutely CRUSHED IT!! Brilliant itinerary, pace, accommodations, guides, sights, sounds, cuisine—everything! I am still in awe. It was one giant pinch-me moment as we made our way from Cape Town to Sabi Sands private game reserve to Pretoria where we boarded Rovos Rail for a truly…
Jacada planned a perfect honeymoon trip for us. They tailored our trip to our preferences all along the way, down to our favorite foods and wines. There was always someone available to communicate in between destinations, which made it stress free. I wouldn’t have done this trip any other way. Would highly recommend.
Plan with peace of mind
When you book a trip in today’s world there’s a lot to think about. But with the right advice and expert planning, you can do it with confidence.
If you book to travel with us but your plans are impacted by circumstances you can’t control, we’ll change your reservation or cancel your booking for a full credit towards future travel.
